The fall semester at Allen Community College has begun and so have the sports and activities that come with it. But what is a sporting event without a roaring crowd? Answer: A boring one, if you ask the students at Allen Community College.

Student morale is higher than ever, according to Director of Student Life and Housing Ryan Bilderback, and the students want to have a good time.

“On top of the student life events, it creates a very positive campus culture when everyone is rooting for each other, so to speak, whether that be on the court, field, classroom –wherever,” said Bilderback. “The coaches, in my opinion, do a really good job of encouraging other teams to attend sporting events as well, and it’s something that we take very seriously as a college.”

However, some students, like sophomore Jenna Thurman, a member of the livestock judging team, think that although attendance at games is decent, it can always be improved.

“The student section is pretty good, but I hope we get more energetic as the year goes on,” sophomore cheerleader Cateria Eveling said.

Other students reflected back to their days in high school, in hopes of bringing some of that team spirit to Iola.

“At my high school  the band, cheerleaders, dance team and athletes would all parade through the halls on game days while we (the students) cheered them on. We called it ‘Running of the Halls,’” said Camrie Kratochvil, a freshman soccer player at Allen.

Casi Vanausdall had a similar experience at her school, where the middle schoolers would do push-ups at the end zone during football games when they scored a touchdown.

“It was a good way to get the audience involved and excited,” shared Vanausdall.

Many students have expressed their interest in theme nights at games, including sophomore Reid Browning, a member of the Red Devil baseball team. So far he has attended softball and volleyball games this year.

“The student section is weak right now,” says Browning, but adds he would participate in theme nights if it were organized.

“The student section is trash… I mean it’s not there at all,” says Chris Young, a sophomore, who makes a point to attend as many athletic events on campus as possible. “We had some theme nights last year but nobody’s really taken the helm of that yet this year.”

Currently there is no student run pep club at the college, but any individuals interested in “taking the helm” are encouraged to meet with Bilderback, and of course, attend and participate in as many events as possible.

“By supporting the athletics and activities you not only learn what it means to be a teammate but to be someone who can encourage other people,” says Bilderback. “Make the gym loud. Make the soccer field loud. Bring the cheer team out to a cross country meet just to get the kids excited. Those are the types of things that we’re starting to see, and we’re excited about that.

“With basketball season starting up in a month or so I am hoping the gym is full and the students are getting involved and getting to know all the athletes,” Bilderback said.